RNZI: Former American Samoa congressional candidate to again seek place in Congress

Former American Samoa congressional candidate to again seek place in Congress

Posted at 22:37 on 14 February, 2008 UTC

A former congressional candidate plans to run again in this year’s election for American Samoa’s Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Aumua Amata, the daughter of American Samoa’s first locally elected governor, the late Uifaatali Peter T. Coleman, has confirmed she is in the process of contacting key supporters around the territory.

Aumua says the imposition of a federal minimum wage without local consultation and the continuing delay by Congress in extending tax credits to stabilize the outlook of the local tuna industry are two important issues that persuaded her to run.

“I think it’s important for the voters to have a credible choice of alternatives and I believe I offer new thinking and a different approach to representation in Congress. To make a long story short, we simply need a fulltime representative there, and as your voice I will stick to your business and stay home.”

Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin has held the seat for nearly 20 years.

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